August 24, 2026 Edition
Good Day All! I’m Glenn Papazian bringing you the latest edition of My Sports Desk. News from the World of Sports, what happened, what’s coming next, the honor roll, and a commentary.
Phillies
The Phillies are ready to embark on a 9-game in 10-days road trip with games against the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. It will be the last road trip outside of the east coast for the team. The Phillies will throw Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, and Aaron Nola at the Mariners. Andrew Painter is scheduled for his next start in the series opener in Anaheim.
The Phils could not go in hotter. They have swept both the Marlins and the Cardinals, getting significant contributions from up and down the line up, and excellent pitching. And thrills like winning the final game of the St. Louis series scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the ninth capped by a Kyle Schwarber two-run game-winning home run.
The new first baseman Alec Bohm had a productive week highlighted by a walk-off triple in the 10th inning to give the Phillies a 7 – 6 win over the Cardinals.
The pitching held up especially the efforts from Nola and Painter. More on that later.
The team averaged 7 runs per game in the homestand, getting more than 6 runs in 5 of 6 games. The largest output was in the 12 – 2 over the Cardinals.
Major League Baseball
Elsewhere in major league baseball the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Seattle Mariners 22 – 0 which tied the modern major league record for the largest shutout victory.
Fernando Tatis, Jr. hit two home runs and leaped up to steal a grand slam in the Padres win over the Mets.
Pitcher Andrew Hoffman was claimed by the Phillies off waivers from the Diamondbacks.
The races for the division titles are tightening in the American League with: the Tampa Bay Rays presently ahead by 3 games over the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox lead the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Guardians by 4 and a half, and the Houston Astros leading the Texas Rangers by one and a half. We’re coming up on an interesting September.
Union
Soccer action saw the Union play to a 2 – 2 draw against Miami. Lionel Messi did play on the pitch in Chester and scored a goal. Travelling to Austin the team played to a 1 – 1 draw.
This week sees the Union going to Harrison, New Jersey for a game against the New York Red Bulls.
The Union will take a 5 – 6 – 10 record to North Jersey.
WNBA
In the Indiana Fever guard combo of Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark each combined to score 20 or more points individually in a single game for the 17th time this season to set a WNBA record, but in game 17 The New York Liberty ended the Fever five-game winning streak.
The game of note for the week is the Las Vegas Aces hosting the Golden State Valkyries. Golden State clinched a playoff berth along with Atlanta. The playoff picture is shaping up.
Penn State
College football season is just around the corner. In the AP Poll the Nittany Lions are ranked 18th.
Safety Jeremiah Cooper is on the watch list for the Bednarik Award named in honor of Penn All-American and Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik. The award is given to the college Defensive Player of the Year. Concrete Charlie is in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Villanova
Meanwhile the Wildcats of Villanova are ranked #7 in the FCS Coaches Poll. Montana State is ranked #1 going into the season that starts on August 28th for Nova at home vs. William and Mary.
Delaware
More preseason watch lists have been released. The Biletnikoff Award which recognizes college football’s outstanding FBS player who catches a pass. On that list is Blue Hen’s wide receiver Sean Wilson.
And linebacker Gavin Moul appears on the Bednarik Award watch list.
Temple
One of the highest honors in Temple football is to be announced a Temple TUFF single-digit jersey wearer. This season five new single-digits were announced while two players retained their single-digit number. They are:
Colin Chase #1 a wide receiver and Dante Atton #7 the punter return to don a jersey with a single digit. Joining them are; linebacker Eric Stuart, tight end Peter Clarke, offensive lineman Grayson Mains, running back Sam Brown V, and safety Saboor Karriem.
Men’s Collegiate Soccer
In Big Five action Villanova downed Temple 1 – 0 on the Main Line on a goal by Luca Mazzola in the 75th minute. Delaware opened their season against Temple and won. Saint Joseph’s won their season opener. Penn State started the season defeating Mercyhurst 3 – 2. And they will renew their rivalry with Pitt on August 28.
Women’s Collegiate Soccer
In Women’s Soccer after tying second ranked Notre Dame the Nittany Lions fell at West Virginia 2 – 1. Delaware remains undefeated. Saint Joseph’s took 2 wins over Drexel and Hofstra. The Drexel Dragons got win number one for new coach Shannon Grogan 5 – 0 over Holy Family. La Salle fell 7 – 0 at #13 Virginia.
LLWS
West Chester East Side lost their opening round game in the LLWS to Bayonne. The team goes into the double elimination round
Who Made the Honor Roll?
Junior forward Sarah Fischer of Saint Joseph’s was named the Atlantic 10 Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. She had 2 goals and 2 assists in the 3 – 2 win over Drexel. Fischer assisted on the game-winner and she scored the lead goal in the 3 – 1 victory over Hofstra.
Aaron Nola pitched a career-longest 7 innings against the Marlins giving up just one earned run and struck out 8 batters.
And matching that against the Cardinals, Painter also set a career-mark for the longest at 7 innings, gave up one earned run, and struck out …. 8.
Commentary
Things are going quite well for the Philadelphia Phillies currently. They are on a 9-game win streak. But as interim Manager Don Mattingly said earlier, “It’s still day to day. Things change so fast. We’re playing good right now, but things change so fast.”
He is so right. In early August the Phillies were in a funk, and a berth in the post season was iffy. They since turned it around. The wild card race is solidified. And now they are withing striking distance of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League Eastern Division. After the west coast swing, the teams will play a pivotal series at Citizens Bank Park.
Will it be for the East? Who knows? Let’s hope so.
But things can change back. This team has shown that it can be hot and cold with the swing happening quickly. If the Phillies stay hot, they could go all the way. That would be nice.
But keep in mind, as Mattingly said, “things can change so fast!”
That’s the story!
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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